Cooler for stereotype printing plates



@ci 9, i923." 1,686,784

H. A. W. WOOD COOLER FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed NOV. 2l, 1923 rl x| ll lI I @f @7m/yr Patented t. 9, 192,8.

UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO WOOD NEWSPAPER MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

COOLER FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

Application led November 21, 1923. Serialv No. 676,197.

This invention relates to a cooling device for receiving a curved stereotype printing plate directly from the finisher and supplying it with a spray of water on the inside surface to cool it. n

`T he principal objects of this invention are to provide a more economical way of using the water and avoiding the usual necessity in this type of coolers of allowing the water to run as long as the plate is in the cooler and to provide an improved form of cover for preventing splashing and capable of being manipulated in a very convenient Way.

Further objects and advantages of the in-v vention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompany- -ing drawings in which Fig. l is a side elevationv of a finishing machine frame with a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto and partly broken away to show the interior in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of one side` looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2, showing certain details.

This invention is intended to constitute a part of a combined casting, finishing and cooling machine of that type in which complicated machinery is avoided. The cooler is shown as arranged in such relation to the finishing machine that the plate can be moved from the finishing machine to the cooler horizontally by pushing it along the guides which are provided. y

I have shown a cooler comprising primarily a tank 1 cast with integral feet 2 with the assistance of which it is held in place on the end of frame 21 of the finishing machine. Fitted to the tank are two horizontal plate tracks 3 upon which the plate is slid into lthe'cooler in ahorizontal direction and by which itis supported. These tracks have inner lips 4 which guard the plate against falling off sideways thereby constituting guides and guards.

Located in a substantially central position within the cooler isa longitudinal water spray tube 5 having perforations 7 disposed at suitable intervals along the entire lengthl and on the upper half of its circumference. This tube is securely fastened at both ends in 'hollow headers 6y which serve both as storage reservoirs for the proper distribution of the water and as supporting brackets for the tube 5. Water isV supplied to one of the headers 6 by a pipe 11 through a controlling valve 12. -This controlling valve is of the type known as a flush valve and is provided with a push button 13 which, when pushed by the operator, permits a predetermined quantity of water to pass through it. After this the supply is out off automatically so that no more Water can flow and the operator does not have to pay any attention to it. This valve is one that is bought on the market and the details of it are not a part of this invention. It involves vmeans for regulating the quantity of water passing through the valve. Although I have used here a known type of valve its application to this particular machine is a matter of material importance. It supplies means for regulating and operating the cooling device without the use of mechanism of any sort except the valve. It is an improvement over the valves that have been used heretofore which have been operated by some moving part of the machine or by the weight of the printing plate 8 itself.

It will be seen that this results in economy in construction and conveniencein operation as well as reduction in repairs. another important advantage in that it is `set so that just the amount of water necessary is used each time a .plate is put in. This re' sults in an important saving in the amount of water over that type of devices in which the valves are regulated bythe weight of the plate in the cooler. In those devices any delay in moving the plate causes an unnecessary waste of water. In this case the time element is determined independently of the handling of the plate by the operator.

As will be seen, whenv the water is turned on by pressing the button 13 it is discharged in the form of a' uniform spray all over the inside of the plate 8 which is supportedin a It also has position concentric with the supply pipe 5. rlhis thoroughly cools the plate with a minimum amount of water. The water having accomplished its purpose collects on the bottom of the tank and is drained off through the strainer 9 and drain pipe 10. The strainer is used to prevent stray chips from the finishing operation from clogging the drain.

An annoying and detrimental feature of the usual coolers attached directly to the plate making machine is the tendency to spill some of the water upon the operators or on the floor near the machine. For the purpose of avoiding this annoyance I provide a semi-cylindrical sheet metal cover 14 which is fitted into a rectangular cast iron frame 15 having downwardly projecting lips 16 on both sides and at the ends, if desired. This frame overhangs the upper edge of the tank 1 upon which it rests. On account of these lips 16 extending down beyond the' points of support, the water that may be splashed against this cover will drip down into' the tank 1. The cover 14 completely surrounds the convex surface of the plate so that it is impossible for any water to escape. l.

Thisc'over has to be raised whenever the plate is moved into or out of the cooler. In order to facilitate the raising of the cover and permit it to be raised from either side, it is constructed as folows: Both sides of the tank l are fitted with two lugs 17 vcast thereon and on both sides ofthe cast frame 15 are also cast lugs 18 projecting the same distance from the center but further apart than the lugs 17. The lugs 17 have open topped grooves at the top. The lower ends of the lugs 18 are made in the form of stops 19. Between these lugs 18 are cast integrally, or otherwise secured, cylindrical hinge handles 20. These hinge handles rest in the depressions in the lugs 17 on both sides of the device. Whenever itl is desired to raise the cover it can be raised from either side as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It canbe moved back to a position in which the stops 19 come against the side of the tank.- This makes it readily accessible from either side and results in economy in operation as the operator does not have to go around to the other side atV any time for the purpose of introducing or taking out the plate.

Although I have illustrated and described a single form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,but what I claim is 1. In a cooling device for a stereotype printing plate, the combination with supports for the plates and a tank below the supports for receiving the water, of a spray pipe having spray perforations through its upper surface, a iiush valve through which a predetermined amount of water can be discharged into the spray pipe and the supply then cut off automatically, and a removable cover over the trough covering the entire surface of the plate when located on. said support.

2. In a cooling device for a curved stereotype printing plate, the combination with a pair of supports for the lower edges of the plate and a tank below the supports for receiving lthe water discharged against the plate, of a spray pipe located longitudinally 'and concentrically with respect to the plate when on said supports and having spray perforations through its upper surface, a Hush valve through which a predetermined .amount of water can be discharged into the spray pipe and the supply then eut olf automatically, and a` removable cover over the trough covering the entire surface of the plate when located on said supports.

3. The combination with a spray pipe for discharging water against the interior of a stereotype curved printing plate, and means for supporting the plate in a position concentric With respect-to said pipe, of a tank below the pipe for collecting the water discharged, a frame resting on the top edges of said tank, and a semi-cylindrical cover fixed to said frame and located concentric with the plate and spray pipe and covering both of them.

4. The combination with a cooling tank for a stereotype printing plate, of a cover to preventsplashing of the water out of the tank, said cover having a rectangular frame at the base adapted to rest on the tank and provided with a pair of'longitudinal hinge andles at the sides thereof, said tank being provided with supports for these hinge handles open at the top, whereby the cover can be raised from either side pivoting 0n the v side to pivot about the opposite hinge handle to expose the cooling devlce.

6. The combination with a curved stereotype plate cooling tank, of a cover for the tank, and means on the tank for supporting the cover so that it can be swung upwardly f rgm either side about an axis at the other s1 e. Y I

7. In a cooling device for a. curved stereowhereby a, predetermined amount of water type printing plate, the combination with a. can be discharged into the spray pipe 10 pair of supports for the lower ed es of the through said valve and the valve then closed 4 plate, of a spray pipe located longitudinally automatically.` i V 5 and concentrically with respect to the plate In testimony whereof I have hereunto when on said supports and spaced from it aixed my signature.` and having spray perfor-ations through its upper surface, a flush valve, and means HENRY A; WISE WOOD. 

